Lezard's Triumph

"Why did you bring me here?" Rufus asked, crossing his arms over his chest, a scowl on his handsome face. He was knee deep in flowers, watching as Melusitane carefully knelt down among the plants.

"Your friend...the little one...I mean the Guardian..." Melusitane corrected herself with a smile. "She has need of the Dumas flower, yes?" She carefully snapped free one of the flowers, holding it up to Rufus. He wordlessly took it from her, careful not to crush the delicate plant with his fingers.

"Is that all?" He asked.

Melusitane sighed. "Such a peaceful place this garden is. Your mother loved spending time here."

"I remember..." Rufus allowed a fond smile to cross his face. "She often spent whole mornings out here tending the flowers." His smile faded away to a frown. "But why are we talking about this?" Another sigh from the female elf, this time sounding heavier and more drawn out. "Melusitane?"

"She wasn't your real mother...you know that right?" asked Melusitane.

Rufus laughed. "Is that what this is about?" He rubbed at his nose, a nervous habit of his. "I know Loubella wasn't my birth mother. But she...she treated me kindly, even after the truth came out about Odin. I loved her as though she was my real mother."

"You never wondered about your birth mother?" Melusitane gazed up at him, her expression serious.

"No." Rufus said bluntly. "All the elves were like family to me. What did it matter who gave birth to me." His expression darkened, his eyes wide. "Please don't tell me YOU'RE my birth mother."

Melusitane laughed. "Heavens no!" Rufus breathed a sigh of relief, and she took on an affronted look to her face. "But would it really be so bad if I was?" She sighed when Rufus didn't answer. "No matter." She straightened, dusting her knees of the soil that clung to her skirt. "Your birth mother is dead." She said bluntly.

Rufus blinked. "I...I don't know what to say."

"You could show some sorrow." Melusitane replied.

He shrugged his shoulders. "I didn't know her...I don't have a connection with her."

"Roussalier would be saddened to know you felt that way." Melusitane looked down at the flowers, her expression sad.

"Wait..." Rufus jerked his head up, staring at the elf. "Did you just say Roussalier?!"

"Yes."

"SHE'S my mother?!" He demanded, taking a step closer to the woman. His hands came up, almost as though he meant to grab her, but at the last second he stopped himself. He let out a huff of air at Melusitane's nod, taking a step back. "No..."

"How strange..." She commented. "Now you take on a grieving look."

"She's dead..." Rufus said. "That's what you were going to tell me...?"

"Yes. You don't seem surprised." She pointed out.

"I...I need to be alone." He said abruptly, turning away from her.

"Of course." Melusitane said, but he was already walking away from her.

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Making sure her gauntlets were properly fastened, Lenneth Valkyrie walked through the double doors of Gladsheim. Her newly polished armor clanked loudly as she moved, gleaming in the light of the hall. She heard a low murmur, voices talking quietly amongst themselves. She kept on walking, but out of the corner of her eye she noted which Gods and Goddesses had answered Freya's call.

There was only a handful of Aesir gathered, many of their divine brethren having fled Asgard, like rats abandoning a sinking ship. She was pleased to see Thor and Lady Eir among the Gods who had come to this place of gathering. She was also surprised to see the lesser God Ull here, the young boy God perched on the vacated throne of Heimdall. There was twelve seats in all, awarded to the main gods for this was the inner sanctuary of Asgard, the place where Odin and his council meet to make important decisions.

Odin's seat was empty, no one, not even Freya daring to sit on his throne. The Goddess of Fertility looked up, spotting Lenneth, and she smiled. "Ah Lenneth..." She gestured her forward. "It's good you have joined us."

"My lady..." Lenneth bowed her head in acknowledgment. She went to stand next to Freya's seat, body poised to rigid attention. In addition to herself and Freya, there was only six other Gods in the room. A pitiful amount when one considered there was over 50 in the Divine Pantheon.

"Now that we are all here, we can begin." Freya said, leaning back in her seat. She crossed her shapely legs one over the other, making sure her skirt did not flash any of the gathered Gods. "You are all aware of the situation?"

"Yes..." Thor's gruff voice rumbled out, a hint of storm clouds in his tone. "Odin is no more, and Gungnir has been stolen."

"Asgard is doomed if Gungnir is not returned to us." The platinum blonde Goddess Eir said, her expression grave.

"Is it not already too late for our realm?" asked Tyr, the God of War. "Much of Asgard has fallen into Midgard. Little remains of our land."

"Would you leave us too for greener pastures Lord Tyr?" asked Freya sharply.

"No, I did not mean to imply that." Tyr hastily replied. "It's just..."

"The situation seems hopeless." finished Loki the Trickster God.

"Even in the darkest times, some sun must shine through." Vor, the Goddess of Wisdom spoke up.

"Well, spoken Lady Vor." Freya smiled at the raven haired Goddess. "There is but one chance for Asgard to be saved."

"Well tell us then." urged the Storm Lord Thor.

Lenneth was the one to speak next. "Odin's murderer has offered us a bargain."

"The usurper has been in contact with you?!" exclaimed Loki.

"What do we care what Odin's slayer has to say?!" scoffed Tyr.

"It would be wise to listen, lest we lose a chance at saving our home." Vor said sensibly. "Lady Lenneth?"

"Lezard Valeth..." His name was a cursed hiss on Lenneth's lips. "He wants to rule in Odin's place." The outrage of the Gods was immediately apparent, the room erupting into a loud roar of angry shouts.

"Are you mad?!"

"Never!"

"Surely he is joking!"

"We would never allow a mortal to rule over us!"

Freya held up her hand, signaling for silence. The Aesir quieted down, though they vibrated with nervous energy, eager to make their voices be heard. "I'm glad you feel that way. I too loathe the thought of Odin's killer taking the throne. In fact, I would rather die than see him set foot in Valhalla."

"Then we tell him no?" asked Eir. "But what of Asgard...it will surely crumble apart without Gungnir here as a stabilizing force." As if on cue, the room shook from a massive earthquake, the table they sat around splitting apart from the force of it.

"Perhaps it would be better to allow him on the throne..." Loki said uneasily.

"Loki no!" gasped Eir.

"I have a proposal. I say we fight..." Freya smiled grimly. "Fight and take back what is ours!"

"A splendid idea!" Tyr said, always eager for war.

"I would not be against avenging Lord Odin's death." spoke up Thor.

"But can we stand up to one who has Odin's power?" asked Loki. "Odin ruled over us all because he was the strongest. And with Gungnir at his side he was unmatched in power. If this...human could defeat him, what chance have we?" The Gods exchanged uneasy glances, thinking over the truth of the Trickster God's words.

"I would say something." Until now Ull had been quiet, only listening to the elder Gods speak.

"Yes Ull?" Lenneth smiled kindly at the boy God.

"I'm afraid I must agree with Loki. Some of us faced mortals in the recent chaos. Faced them and lost..." Ull's cheeks flamed red, the boy thinking of the beating handed to him by SIlmeria's human host and her companions. "These same mortals slayed Heimdall and many other lesser Gods. Would we really go against a mortal who has the power of Odin and Gungnir?"

"There is more..." Freya said gravely. "We know he is in possession of two of the four sacred treasures."

"And he seeks the third." added Lenneth. "He may already have it."

"Then it is hopeless." sighed Vor.

"Maybe not..." Freya said. "If we can make a united front against him..."

"You would lead us to our deaths Freya!" growled Loki. "And I for one won't stand for it!" He pounded his fist on the broken table.

"Loki!"

"No Eir..." Freya calmly waved her hand. "Let him have his tantrum. It is only a sign of a scared weakling."

"Weakling?!" hissed Loki, rising to his feet. His aura flared up, blood red with black spikes to it. "How dare you!"

Freya looked him in the eyes, calmly staring him down. "If you don't settle down Loki, it won't be Lezard who sends you to your final resting place."

"Sit Loki, sit..." urged Vor. "We should not fight amongst each other." She cast a side long glance at Freya. "We should not fight at all."

"This is going to happen. Regardless of what you say." retorted Freya.

"And since when did you become in charge?" demanded Loki, causing Freya to scowl.

"He has a point milady..." Thor said.

"I was Odin's right hand!" Freya pounded her hands against the table, her temper loosed. "I alone was privy to his secrets. I alone am second in rank to his power! I will not be...be questioned in this manner!" The ruined table cracked under her hands, splintering into pieces.

"Calm down Freya..." advised Eir. "This is not helping things."

"Hmph!" Freya sneered, but sat back down in her seat.

"Perhaps we should have a vote?" suggested Vor. "All in favor of facing the usurper, raise your hand." Freya and Lenneth's hands immediately shot up, as did Tyr and Thor's. "And all those in favor of accepting this Lezard as a new ruler, raise your hand." Smirking Loki raised his hand, as did Eir and Vor. Ull looked down at his hands which were folded neatly on his lap.

"I...I'm sorry Lady Freya..." He raised his hand as well.

"Well that was pointless." muttered Tyr. "It's a tie, now what do we do?!"

"We must each follow our own path." Vor said wisely.

"In other words, the four of us are on our own." Lenneth arched an eyebrow at the Goddess of Wisdom.

"You must do what you must do." She answered cryptically.

"Fine then..." Freya's lips were pursed together thinly. "Anyone not with us should leave this room at once. I want no distractions while we plan a course for war." The four Gods who had voted against fighting Lezard nodded, rising from their seats.

"Best of luck." Ull said, before fleeing from the room without a backwards glance.

"Nice knowing you." Loki laughed, and vanished in a puff of red smoke.

"If it looks like you are to be defeated, perhaps the best course of action would be too simply surrender." suggested Vor, offering her hand to the Fertility Goddess.

"Never!" hissed Freya, ignoring her hand.

"It's better than dying." Vor said sadly, turning away.

"I may not be a fighter, but I will prepare my best charms for you.." Eir, the Goddess of Healing said. "They may help turn the tide in this battle of yours."

"Thank you Eir." Lenneth said, a slight smile on her face. Eir bowed, and then she too walked out of Gladsheim, leaving the four alone to hatch plots against Lezard.

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Lezard slammed his hand down on the ivory table, hearing a resounding thud as the desk shook. He glowered at the philosopher's stone that sat nestled on a purple cushion, twinkling in the dim light of his study. He had spent hours searching through the stone, flipping through the billion page codex, only to be stymied time and time again. The whereabouts of the Dragon Orb continued to elude him, almost as though it had vanished from the nine realms. But that was impossible, wasn't it? After all Midgad was still there, still thriving and free of war and turmoil.

He sighed, running fingers through his hair, messing up his neatly arranged strands. "Useless!" He shouted at the stone, slumping down in his overstuffed leather chair. "Worthless!" He leaned forward, Lezard resting his chin on his hand, staring glumly at the philosopher's stone. "Why do you fail me now...now at the moment of my greatest triumph?"

It merely gleamed, the center of it empty of all words, taunting him with it's barrenness. "Bah!" Lezard scowled, and waved his hand over the stone, vanquishing it to the dimensional shift where his other treasures laid. Another deep sigh from him, Lezard drumming his fingertips on his arm rest, listening to the thump, thump, thump of his fingers.

"I've got it!" He suddenly exclaimed, voice high and excited. "I know what is wrong! Of course! Why didn't I realize this sooner." He straightened up, a mad grin on his face. "My philosopher's stone only contains knowledge from the unaltered timeline...Just as it couldn't know the future, it cannot know this time's new destiny. It can only tell me where the Dragon Orb was supposed to be...In Odin's keep. Hmm..." More tapping of his fingers. "I suppose I will just have to make do without the orb." Lezard leaned back in his chair, already contemplating new plans.

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Rufus leaned against the rail of the bridge, his head tilted back as he gazed up at the night sky. Memories accosted him, of a beautiful woman with hair the same shade of green as his, and who had shown a skillful touch with the bow and arrow. Roussalier He thought wistfully. He saw her surrounded by three Aesir patrol man, saw them advance on her, holding their swords up high. His hands curled around the rail, gripping it tightly as he remembered how she did not scream as they cut her down without a second thought. You gave your life so that I would be safe.

He sighed, feeling his eyes grow wet. He let go of the rail, rubbing at his eyes, wiping away the tears before they could fall. It's funny. I barely even knew you, but I feel the loss of you.

Footsteps on the rickety bridge alerted him to the fact that he was no longer alone, a soft voice calling out his name. "Rufus?"

"Alicia..." He straightened, turning in the direction of her voice and paused. She was standing a few feet away, eyes lowered modestly, fidgeting hands behind her back. She was no longer garbed in her traveling outfit, having traded function for a gown truly fitting for a princess. It was white, with a large hoop skirt that barely fit between the rails of the bridge. Her shoulders were bare, the sleeves off shoulder, with a daring neckline that swept down low. The bodice clung to her waist like a second skin, material molded to her round breasts, not concealing her ample curves. Ribbons and frills decorated the skirt, the material bunched up, revealing a taffeta underskirt. A swatch of white was around her neck, and gold adornments decorated the bodice of her dress, matching her hair and eyes.

"Alicia..." He repeated her name, taking a step towards her. His mouth opened and closed several times, Rufus unable to stop staring at her.

"You don't like it?" Uncertainty colored her voice, her expression turning crestfallen.

"No...NO!" He shook his head. "I love it...wow..." He breathed out. "WOW!" Her cheeks turned red, pleased with his praise.

"The elves gave it to me..." She explained. "They're mending my clothes...I feel a little silly..." She confessed. "But they insisted I wear it. Said it was the only thing in the village fitting for a guardian."

"You look great." Rufus said, realizing he sounded a little goofy. "I mean really, really great." He laughed, suddenly nervous. "You're beautiful."

"Thank you!" Her smile was dazzling then, and she walked over to him. He held out his hand to her, seeing the sleeves of her dress went all the way down to her fingers. She took hold of his hand, allowing him to pull her closer to him, looking into his eyes. Moonlight shined down on her, making her golden hair gleam even more, and for one brief instant Rufus was mesmerized by her beauty.

"Rufus...what did Melusitane want to talk to you about?" She asked, spoiling the mood.

He sighed, letting go of her hand. "My mother."

"Oh? Is she still in the village? I'd like to meet her." Alicia said, seeming not to notice the dark expression on his face.

"You already have."

"I have?" Her eyes widened. "Don't tell me she's one of the guards!"

"No." Rufus shook his head. "No, you met her a long time ago. Remember Roussalier?"

"Oh, the elf that helped us?!" asked Alicia. "What about her?"

"Well it turns out she's my mother..." He laughed. "Isn't that something?"

"I don't understand..." She frowned. "If she's your mother, why were you so cold to her?"

"Because I didn't know..." he whispered, making a fist. "I didn't know!" He banged his clenched hand against the rail, shoulders sagging.

"Rufus?" Her hand was on his arm, light pressure as she turned him to face her. "What...?"

"I never knew who my real mother was. The elves raised me...all of them...I was the beloved son of the village." He explained with a bitter laugh. "At the time it didn't matter to me who my birth mother was...everyone was my family."

"Oh...Well...you know who she is now...you could go to her...make amends..." suggested the princess.

"I can't."

"Of course you can!" She insisted. "All it takes is a little courage."

"No...I really can't." Rufus sighed. "Alicia...she's dead."

"What?! Oh Rufus...I'm so sorry!" She was hugging him then, wrapping her arms around him, her face buried against his chest. "How did it happen?"

He reached up to return the hug, one hand stroking the back of her hair. "That's right...you don't remember..."

"Remember what?" She tried to pull back to look at him, but he held onto her tighter. "Rufus...?"

"It was when you took the ghoul powder." His green eyes grew distant, the half elf getting lost in the memories. "You remember right? We were cornered by the entrance to Bifrost by an Aesir border patrol." She nodded and he continued. "But you probably don't remember what happened next. You were pretty out of it by then, caught in the grips of the ghoul powder's painful effect." he sighed, and fell quiet.

"Go on..." She urged when it appeared he would not continue.

"I shielded you with my body. I held you in my arms, kinda like I'm doing right now..." He managed a watery smile. "I thought it was the end for us, and then an arrow flew true, striking one of the Gods in the foot. It was Roussalier. The Gods turned on her, surrounding her. She didn't even put up a fight...While they were distracted with her, you finally became undead enough to pass through the wall of Bifrost." A shudder racked Rufus' body. "My mother didn't fight, she just looked at me as though she could see me through the stone wall. She smiled softly and nodded her head. And then..."

"And then?" urged Alicia, feeling her own eyes fill up with tears.

"And then they killed her." He buried his face in her hair, squeezing her tight.

"Oh Rufus!" Alicia returned the hug, sniffling. "I'm so sorry."

"I was so rude to her...so angry and confrontational...why couldn't I have been nicer..." He suddenly released his hold on her, stepping back from Alicia. Tears streamed down his face. "Why couldn't I have shown an ounce of kindness to her?!"

"You didn't know..."

"But I should have! I should have cared!" He began slamming his fists on the railing over and over again. "I should have wanted to know who my real mother was! Instead I was content to let everyone spoil me, never wondering about the woman who gave birth to me. I'm a terrible son." His hands were started to bleed from the force he used against the steel railing.

"Enough!" Alicia grabbed at his hands, pulling them away from the railing. "You're not a terrible son...you were a bit spoiled, but...but I believe in you. You weren't a bad son at all." She kept on holding his hands, caressing his cuts, getting the blood on her sleeves.

"Alicia..." He slumped forward, wrapping his arms around her once more.

"You're not a bad son..." She repeated, reaching up to touch his tear stained face. "You're kind and you're gentle...Smart and handsome...and she would have...no..." She shook her head. "She WAS proud of you."

"How can you tell?" He whispered.

"Can't you feel it?" She asked, pulling out of his embrace. "Feel it deep in here?" She guided his hand to her breast, holding it over her heart. "Deep in your heart, in your very soul?"

Rufus started blushing, unable to concentrate on anything but the feel of Alicia's breast under his palm. He fought to keep from moving his hand, arm trembling with the strain of holding himself still. Alicia was staring up at him earnestly, completely unaware of the effect she was having on him. "Alicia..." His voice came out a husky whisper. "Could...could you let go of my hand?"

"Oh!" She seemed to realize what she had done, suddenly blushing, cheeks a bright pink color. "Sorry..."

"Don't apologize." He risked a smile at her, and she shyly ducked her head, letting her hair fall forward to hide her face. "So...You really think I'm all that?"

"..." She mumbled something, the elf unable to make out what she said.

"What was that?" He asked, touching her chin, gently easing her face up towards his.

"Yes..." She repeated, blush deepening.

His smiled grew wider. "I think you're pretty special too Alicia..." He was bending his tall frame downwards, intent on brushing his lips against hers. He watched as she closed her eyes, lifting her head, an expectant look on her face. Rufus transferred his grip from her chin to her cheek, fingers caressing her soft skin. Her breathing quickened at his touch, her lips parting slightly.

Suddenly impatient, he quickly closed the gap between them, claiming her mouth in a fiery kiss of possession. Alicia gasped against his mouth, beginning to move her lips against his. Soft smacking sounds filled the air, Rufus dropping his hands to her waist, pulling her tight against him. Alicia reached up, entwining her arms around his neck, fingers tangling in his hair.

"Alicia..." He groaned out her name, planting another kiss on her. She mewled back at him, chest starting to heave as he kissed her breathless. He took a chance, deepening the kiss, licking his tongue across her lips. Her eyes flew open, startled, staring into his green ones. "It's okay..." He told her. "Just open your mouth."

She was unsure, but the princess did as he asked. Rufus wasted no time plunging his tongue into her mouth, hearing her let out a startled whimper. He stroked his tongue along the length of hers, rubbing the tip against the wet velvet feel of her tongue. Slowly Alicia lifted up her own tongue, caressing him back, making pleased sounds.

He pushed her against the railing, careful to keep her from falling over, kissing her even more aggressively. Alicia let out a little whimper, fingers caressing his scalp, even as he kissed his way down from her mouth to her jaw line. He rained kisses across it, moving to her neck, kissing above the piece of silk she wore around her throat. "Rufus!" She gasped out his name, clinging to him.

"Alicia.." His lips sucked against the side of her throat, seeking to mark her. He was so enamored with what he was doing that he almost missed the sound of high pitched giggles. He desperately wanted to ignore them, but he could feel Alicia stiffening in his arms, feel her pushing him away. Damn it. He thought, glancing over the rail, seeing several elves standing beneath the bridge pointing up at them. Their smiles widened as they noticed Rufus looking at them, and one even dared to wave. Alicia let out a high pitched squeak of embarrassment, holding her hands up to her face.

"Come on..." Rufus grabbed her hand, gently tugging her after him. "Show's over people!" He yelled angrily at the elves, as he stomped forward, boots rattling the bridge. Alicia hurried behind him, risking a glance back at the smiling elves.

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Lenneth sighed, setting down the novel she was reading, having flipped to the end to see how things turned out. She was disappointed to see the ending was as dismal as she had predicted, a horrific ending to a rather dull plot line. She was glad she hadn't invested the time needed to read the whole book. As it was she had wasted several hours, trying to stay awake long enough to read past the first few chapters.

Exhaling, she leaned back against the pillows, fixating her eyes on the ceiling. Something was nagging at her, eating away at her mind. She kept getting the feeling that she was forgetting something, something important. But she couldn't think of who or what that something was. It was like there was a hole in her head, an empty spot where that thing should be, a vital part of her life gone in an instant. If Lenneth could have remembered, she would have been horrified to realize she had forgotten all about Lucian. From the important things like his name, to the tiniest little details like the mole on his lower back. All of him was gone, and only the niggling thought that there was once something there, remained.

Lenneth sensed it before it happened, felt the change in the air of the room. She sat up, eyes going to the center of the room, seeing the gold ether swirls spin into existence. Heard the chime of bells an instant before they rang. She felt a sense of anticipation, almost smiling as her eyes alighted on Lezard's materializing form. She raised a hand, nervously running it through her hair, making sure no stray strands were sticking up oddly.

"Lenneth my darling!" Lezard flashed a wide grin at her, in exceedingly good spirits.

"Lezard..." She said quietly, watching as he approached the bed. She tilted back her head when he touched her hair, closing her eyes, allowing him to brush his lips against hers without a fuss. He smiled pleased with her obedience, carefully running his fingers through her hair. His touch soothed her, made her forget that there was something wrong.

"Did you find the Dragon Orb?" Lenneth asked, eyes half lidded as he continued to pet her platinum hair.

"Not yet, but soon." Lezard assured her.

"Oh..."

"Fear not Lenneth, I shall be proceeding with the plan in due course." He told her, sitting down next to her on the bed. "With or without the Dragon Orb, Yggsdrasil will fall!" She was silent, feeling a shiver of fear at his words. Lezard noticed this, and touched her shoulder, turning her to face him. "I won't fail in this endeavor Lenneth. You'll see...our reign over the nine realms will be a thing of glory!"

"I never wanted to rule..." Lenneth said quietly. "It was a role that was thrust upon me when Odin died."

"Ah but you have never had anyone to share the burden of a throne with you." Lezard said. "It will be different with me as your King."

"Never...?" She frowned, wondering why that sounded so wrong. Surely there had been someone...hadn't there?

"All will fear us and respect us." continued Lezard, easing her back against the mattress. He cuddled her body close to his, one arm across her shoulders, the other reaching round to caress her belly. "Our rule will be unprecedented, and never ending!" His eyes gleamed, soft purple light that seemed almost hypnotic to her. "Think of the things we will create together Lenneth...the new race of Gods we shall usher in!"

"I try not to think of such things..." Lenneth said quietly.

"I can hardly wait...the anticipation is pratically driving me mad!" confessed Lezard, his hand going round and round on her belly.

"What exactly are you waiting for?" Lenneth asked.

"Mainly I'm waiting for Freya to give me her answer." Lezard smiled. "I cannot wait to see the mighty Freya, consort of Odin on her knees before me."

"Freya will never give in to you." Lenneth said confidently. "She's a fighter. She'll battle you to her last breath before she submits to you and your demands."

"We will see my pet." Lezard said, his hand at last growing still on her stomach. "I almost look forward to her struggle."

"Oh? Why?" asked Lenneth.

Lezard licked his lips, stifling back a laugh. "Why it'll give me an excuse to take her soul and add her powers to mine."

"What?!" Lenneth abruptly sat up, turning to stare at him aghast.

"Heh, such will be the fate of all the Gods who dare oppose me!" This time he gave into the laughter, it high and wild.

"You truly have gone power mad..." whispered Lenneth, as he pulled her back down on the mattress next to him.

"Perhaps..." Lezard acquiesced. "But let us speak no more on the subject tonight." His voice turned a low whisper, breath blowing against her ear. "Lenneth..." He snuggled close to her, urging her to rest her head on his chest. She did as he bade, fighting back a shudder as he wrapped his arms around her.

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Hmm, a friend told me it's actually the Dragon Orb and not the Dragon's Orb. Gonna try to amend that mistake in future installments. Just a little tidbit of information in case anyone is wondering why I suddenly started changing it. Though call me silly...I like the sound of Dragon's Orb better! ;-p

Double hmm. I always thought that Roussalier must have been related to Rufus. She just seemed to care so much. I debated making her a little sister who he never got to see grow up, but went the birth mother route instead. "sweat drop"

To Be Continued!!

---Michelle